Pharmacy Computers Linked to New Medicare Rx Benefit

Ken Rankin

Published Online: Monday, August 1, 2005

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In a move designed to make it easier
for Medicare beneficiaries to get prescription
drugs from their local pharmacies,
the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved
new technology that will provide realtime
eligibility verification at the prescription
counter.

The new technology will allow
pharmacists to use their existing computer
systems to determine which
Medicare drug plan to bill and whether
the beneficiary has other drug coverage,
all while the beneficiary is at the
counter, CMS officials said.

This new system will help beneficiaries
take advantage of their coverage
even if they do not have their benefit
card.